A Government's Priorities

[Entropic]

Let's assume that a generic liberal democracy is necessary for society to function. Let's also assume this generic liberal democracy has the same things as most western democracies: a police force, a military, a nationalized education system, a few other nationalized systems (roads, energy, healthcare), and a private sector. Let's also assume this is not going to change. In other words, a nationalization of everything, or a privatization of everything, or a direct democracy, or a monarchy, is simply not going to happen.

What should the government focus on? Should it focus on national defense over healthcare? Should it focus on domestic policing over education? Should it focus on social justice over economic success? What should a government's priorities be?

[Despanan]

I think it should focus on whichever issue is most pressing at that particular time.

[Alan]

Agreed. I mean basically we're granting that there won't be any structural changes, so the only thing left is to improvise on the little details.

[Entropic]

I wondered if that question would be too limiting.

What I'm trying to get at is this: What practical things should countries like the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, etc, focus on? Most solutions I've seen say that we should either nationalize or privatize most or all of what the government does, and I don't see that being possible in the near future. While discussion of them is interesting, I can't see them taking place without massive paradigm changes. So I'm wondering what directions you would like to see your/those/a respective country to take that doesn't involve a drastic overhaul of the system.

[Ben Lahnger]

I think the team should draft the best player available.

To address this seriously, I think what you really want to do is have separate departments that address each of the needs so one doesn't get focused on to the detriment or exclusion of another. You could a department of education, a department of energy, a department of health and human services ... you get the idea.

You may want to re-frame the question, or indicate what you think is lacking in the current system. Because I recognize there are needs that are not being addressed, but I don't think your question gets at the problem.

[Entropic]

Originally Posted by Ben Lahnger

You may want to re-frame the question, or indicate what you think is lacking in the current system. Because I recognize there are needs that are not being addressed, but I don't think your question gets at the problem.

I'm attempting to avoid indicating what I think is lacking, because that somewhat begs the question. If I say "I think the education system in America is broken, how should we fix it?", then I'm already supposing that something is wrong with the system, which biases the results.

[Ben Lahnger]

Hmmm ... okay, I don't think there's anything wrong with the current system.

I think the problem lies with an apathetic populace who should be more politically active.